Money raised for children orphaned by double murder

The San Jose Police Officers' Association has raised about $6,200 for three young children who were orphaned when their parents were killed in a double murder at the family's home last month.

The parents, Pedro and Marybel Jimenez, ages 28 and 27, were shot in their home in the 300 block of Seventh Street near Japantown at about 4:20 a.m. on July 23.

The suspect in the case, Pedro Castellon Medina, 31, is still at large and authorities said he may be headed to Mexico. A neighbor said Marybel Jimenez had dated Medina but had recently reconciled with the father of her children.

The Jimenez children, who were at home when the shooting occurred, were presented with some of the money raised by police in the form of gift cards Thursday afternoon at police headquarters.

The gift cards will help them pay for groceries, clothes and school supplies, police said.

About $3,000 of the money raised so far has been donated by members of the public to a Victims' Assistance Fund set up by the Police Officers' Association.

In addition, a number of officers donated a total of $1,600, and one officer felt compelled to match that figure, contributing $1,600 individually, police said.

Police are still collecting donations and will present a check to the children at a later date, San Jose police Sgt. Jason Dwyer said.

Anyone wishing to donate can do so online at www.sjpoa.com. Checks can be mailed to the SJPOA at 1151 N. Fourth St., San Jose, 95112, and should be payable to the SJPOA and have "Jimenez" on the memo line.